Pakistan and India could potentially face each other three times in the new format for the ICC World Cup in 2027 set to be held in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The ongoing Fifa World Cup came in for plenty of criticism prior to its start due to the number of participating teams.
It is the first time the tournament has been extended to 48 teams, including a record 10 African countries. The tournament expanded from its previous 32-team format, dividing the 48 participating countries into 12 groups of four during the group stage.
The top two teams from each group, alongside the eight best third-placed sides, progressed to a first-ever Round of 32 knockout stage.
Many pundits, particularly those from European countries, bemoaned that the “bloated structure” would diminish the quality of the tournament.
